Amos: A Call to Justice and True Worship

Amos, a humble sheep breeder from Tekoa, was called by God to deliver a message to Israel during a time of great affluence and division. Living 2,700 years ago, Amos witnessed a society that, despite its wealth and prosperity, was deeply fractured—both politically and spiritually. The kingdom had split into Israel and Judah over issues of leadership and taxation, and both nations were experiencing economic success due to their strategic location for trade. Yet, beneath this surface prosperity, there was rampant exploitation, injustice, and a growing divide between the rich and the poor. The powerful indulged themselves while the vulnerable were neglected and abused, and the courts favored those who could afford influence.

Religious life in Israel had become a hollow ritual, blending pagan practices with the traditions handed down from Moses. Worship was no longer directed toward God but had become self-serving, and the priests were more interested in their own status and comfort than in true spiritual leadership. Despite outward displays of religiosity, the heart of the nation was far from God. Amos saw that the people had lost sight of true faithfulness—honesty, compassion, and concern for the needy.

God’s voice, described as a lion’s roar from Zion, signaled a warning to the nation. Just as a lion’s roar sends a chill down the spine, so too should the people have been shaken by the reality of God’s judgment. Amos recognized that the calamities befalling the land—plagues, earthquakes, famine—were not random, but signs that the people had turned away from God’s covenant. Yet, no one seemed to ask whether their troubles were the result of spiritual neglect.

The message is as relevant today as it was in Amos’ time. Our world, too, is marked by uncertainty, injustice, and fleeting happiness. Lasting contentment cannot be found in wealth or worldly success, but only in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the true Lion of Judah. True religion is not about ritual or self-interest, but about responding to God’s grace with faithful obedience, loving our neighbors, and caring for those in need. As those who have received much, we are called to much—honesty, reverence for God’s word, and unfailing concern for the vulnerable. God’s call through Amos is a call to examine our own hearts, repent, and seek to live lives marked by justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God often calls ordinary people, like Amos the sheep breeder, to deliver extraordinary messages. Our background or status does not limit God’s ability to use us for His purposes. When we are attentive to God’s prompting, He can speak through us in powerful ways, regardless of our occupation or experience. [19:30]
• 2. Prosperity and comfort can easily mask deep spiritual and social problems. In times of affluence, it is tempting to overlook injustice and become complacent, but God sees beneath the surface. True faithfulness requires us to examine how we treat the vulnerable and whether our lives reflect God’s justice and compassion. [33:39]
• 3. Religious ritual without genuine devotion leads to spiritual emptiness. When worship becomes self-serving or blends with worldly values, it loses its power to transform. God desires worship that is directed toward Him, marked by reverence, honesty, and a heart for others, not just outward displays or traditions. [35:18]
• 4. God’s warnings are acts of mercy, intended to awaken us to our need for repentance and renewal. The “roar” of God is not just a threat, but a call to return to Him before judgment falls. When we experience turmoil or hardship, it is wise to ask whether God is inviting us to realign our lives with His will. [26:40]
• 5. Those who have received much from God are held to a higher standard of responsibility. True religion is demonstrated in how we respond to God’s grace—by loving our neighbors, practicing honesty, and caring for the needy. Our faith is proven not by what we profess, but by how we live out God’s commands in everyday life. [39:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:27] - Opening Prayer and Introduction
• [17:05] - Why Amos? The Relevance of the Minor Prophets
• [19:30] - Amos’ Background: The Sheep Breeder from Tekoa
• [22:25] - The Divided Kingdom: Israel and Judah
• [23:42] - Israel’s Wealth and Strategic Importance
• [25:07] - The Roaring Lion: God’s Warning from Zion
• [26:40] - The Power of God’s Voice and Modern Parallels
• [28:25] - Living in Unsettled Times
• [30:08] - The Search for Lasting Contentment
• [31:43] - Social Injustice in Amos’ Day
• [33:39] - Hollow Religion and Corrupt Worship
• [35:18] - Leadership, Crime, and Self-Indulgence
• [37:22] - Amos’ Prophetic Warning and the Church
• [39:01] - The Call to True Religion
• [40:01] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Amos 1:1-2 (ESV) — > The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
> And he said:
> “The LORD roars from Zion
> and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
> the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
> and the top of Carmel withers.”

Observation Questions

1. What do we learn about Amos’s background and occupation from Amos 1:1? Why might it be significant that God chose someone like him? [19:30]
2. According to Amos 1:2, how is God’s voice described, and what effect does it have on the land and people? [25:07]
3. What were some of the social and religious conditions in Israel during Amos’s time, as described in the sermon? [33:39]
4. What signs or events did Amos see as warnings from God to the people of Israel? [37:22]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might God choose an ordinary person like a sheep breeder to deliver such an important message to Israel? What does this suggest about how God works? [19:30]
2. The sermon describes God’s voice as a “roaring lion.” What does this image communicate about God’s character and intentions toward His people? [25:07]
3. The people of Israel were experiencing prosperity and religious activity, yet Amos saw deep problems. What does this reveal about the dangers of outward success without inward faithfulness? [33:39]
4. Amos saw calamities like plagues and famine as signs of God’s warning. How should people respond when they experience hardship or uncertainty? [37:22]

Application Questions

1. Amos was an ordinary person with an ordinary job, yet God used him in a powerful way. Are there areas in your life where you feel “too ordinary” for God to use you? What might it look like to be open to God’s prompting this week? [19:30]
2. The sermon described a society where wealth and comfort masked deep injustice and neglect of the vulnerable. In what ways can comfort or prosperity in your own life make you less aware of the needs around you? How can you intentionally notice and respond to those needs? [33:39]
3. Religious rituals and traditions were common in Israel, but their hearts were far from God. Are there any spiritual habits or church activities in your life that have become empty routines? What would it look like to renew your devotion and make your worship more genuine? [35:18]
4. When facing difficulties or “unsettled times,” do you tend to ask if God is trying to get your attention or teach you something? Share a recent challenge and discuss how you might discern God’s voice in it. [26:40]
5. The sermon emphasized that those who have received much from God are called to a higher standard of responsibility. What is one practical way you can show honesty, reverence for God’s word, or care for the vulnerable this week? [39:01]
6. Amos called the people to examine their hearts and repent. Is there an area in your life where you sense God calling you to repentance or change? What step could you take this week to respond? [39:01]
7. The message of Amos is still relevant today. How can you help your family, friends, or church community stay focused on true faithfulness—honesty, compassion, and concern for the needy—instead of just outward appearances? [39:01]